Fluorescent lampholder with quick-connect terminals



July 26, 1966 J. M. PlSTEY 3,263,201

FLUORESCENT LAMPHOLDER WITH QUICK-CONNECT TERMINALS Original Filed March 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor= John M. Pisteg His Attorneg July 26, 1966 J. M. PISTEY 3,263,201

FLUORESCENT LAMPHOLDER WITH QUICK-CONNECT TERMINALS Original Filed March 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3. Fig.4.

John M. istes.

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His Attorney July 26, 1966 J. M. PISTEY 3,263,201

FLUORESCENT LAMPHOLDER WITH QUICK-CONNECT TERMINALS Original Filed March 12, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 9. 9- '9- Invent0r= John M. Pisteg 7kmazi.

His Attorney United States Patent 3,263,201 FLUORECENT LAMPHOLDER WlTH QUICK-CONNECT TERMINALS John M. Pistey, Fairfield, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Original application Mar. 12, 1962, Ser. No. 179,135. Divided and this application June 18, 1965, Ser. No. 465,114

6 Claims. (Cl. 33952) This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 179,135, filed March 12, 1962. The present invention relates to lampholders and particularly lampholders having quick-connect terminals for doubleended electric discharge lamps, commonly known as fluorescent lamps.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved structure and arrangement of lampholder contacts so that these contacts efiectively employ resiliently operable pressure-locking terminals, and at the same time result in a simplified over-all lampholder construction which is extremely flexible in application and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

In carrying out one aspect of my invention, in one form thereof, I have provided a fluorescent lampholder having an insulating body with a recess therein. This insulating body has a generally cylindrical configuration and is of such an external diameter that it may fit into a circular aperture of a thin supporting panel. A contact-positioning member is seated in the recess of the insulating body and is in complementary relationship therewith to substantially close one end of the base. Contact means are disposed in the recess and exposed by the contact-positioning member for engagement with associated contacts of a fluorescent lamp base. With this lampholder arrangement, an annular clamping member is secured to the insulating body for retaining the lampholder in firm-1y seated position in the panel. This clamping member has an annular section with a flanged outer periphery of greater diameter than the aperture to seat on the panel around the periphery of the aperture. The annular section is secured to the insulating body and is arranged to engage the contact-positioning member and the open end of the insulating body for fastening the contact-positioning member to the body. The clamping member thus holds the parts of the lampholder together in assembled relationship.

By a further aspect of my invention, I provide an improved contact arrangement for a fluorescent lampholder of the general type wherein a relatively stationary contactpositioning member is employed. This contact arrangement may, of course, be combined with the aforesaid lampholder mounting structure to provide a particularly desirable fluorescent lampholder. In this arrangement, the insulating body of the lampholder includes at least two opposed conductor-receiving apertures extending into the recess through respective opposite sides of the body. At least one resilient contact is disposed within the recess. This contact includes an elongated strip section of U-shaped configuration for providing the lampholder terminations and a looped strip section for resiliently engaging an associated contact pin of a fluorescent lamp. The U-shaped section is connected to the looped section by a supporting strap, and it includes a pair of opposed arms. These arms have their ends positioned angularly across the opposed inner ends of the conductor-receiving apertures and are arranged for resilient movement in first and second directions in response to the insertion of bared external conductors to provide a pair of pressure locking terminals for these conductors. The looped strip section is disposed between the ends of the elongated strip section and is arranged for resilient movement in a third direction transverse to the first and second directions to engage the pin of a lamp. With this arrangement, .a projection is formed in the recess on each side of the insulating body next to the supporting strap. These projections are in bracketing disposition with the strap at the supported end of the looped section and each projection is arranged to engage the strap on one side thereof. By means of the engagement of these projections with the strap, an elfective and simplified means is obtained for substantially segregating the resilient movement of each of the arms of the contact from the other and from the looped strip section.

By a further aspect of my invention, I have provided an improved contact arrangement for a fluorescent lampholder incorpating a movable-plunger type of contactpositioning member. This contact arrangement may, of course, be combined with the aforesaid lampholder mounting structure to provide a particularly desirable plunger-type fluorescent lampholder. In this arrangement, the insulating body of the lampholder is provided with a recessed chamber that opens into one end thereof and at least one conductor-receiving aperture extending into the chamber from the other end thereof. The chamber includes a generally cylindrical cavity and at least one recess in the Wall of the chamber which opens laterally into the cavity and also communicates with the conductorreceiving aperture. A contact-supporting plunger is arranged in the cylindrical cavity of the chamber for reciprocating movement relative to the insulating body. Contact means are carried by the plunger for engagement with a fluorescent lamp base. A resilient means is provided for biasing the contact means into engagement with the plunger and for biasing the plunger outwardly from the cylindrical cavity. With this arrangement, a specially constructed terminal member is arranged in complementary engagement with the chamber. This terminal member includes a contact-engaging section disposed in the cylindrical cavity for connection to the contact means and a looped pressure-locking section disposed. in the recess for resilient attachment to a conductor inserted through the conductor-receiving aperture. The looped pressurelocking section includes a resilient tongue which is positioned angularly across the inner end of the aperture and located adjacent a wall of the recess. This tongue is arranged to resiliently sandwich the inserted conductor against the wall of the recess for locking the conductor into engagement with the contact means. By using a contact having this configuration and arrangement, an eflective and simplified means is provided for connecting an external conductor to the lampholder contact means of the plunger without in any way interfering with the reciprocating action of the plunger in the cylindrical cavity of the chamber.

Further aspects of my invention will become apparent hereinafter and the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which I regard as my invention. The invention, however, as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing a pair of panel-mounted lampholders embodying my invention and a fluorescent lamp disposed in engagement with these lampholders;

FIGURE 1a is a fragmentary plan view of a fixture panel which includes an aperture wherein the lampholders of the present invention may be eflectively and removably seated without requiring the use of any supplemental hardware;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view showing the lampholders and the ends of the lamp of FIGURE 1, partly in section with the base at one end of the lamp partly withdrawn from its lampholder;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the lampholder of FIGURE 1 for the high-voltage end of the lamp, this lampholder having a movable plunger;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the lampholder of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a rear view of the lampholder of FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of the lampholder of FIGURE 3, with the insulating body partially broken away to show the interior structure thereof;

FIGURE 7 is a front view of the lampholder body of FIGURE 6, looking into the recessed chamber of the body, and showing one terminal element seated in the body and one terminal element removed;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the lampholder of FIGURE 1 for the low-voltage end of the lamp, this lampholder having a relatively stationary contactpositioning member;

FIGURE 9 is a front view of the lampholder of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a rear view of the lampholder of FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 11 is an exploded perspective view of the lampholder of FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12 is a front view of the insulating body of the lampholder of FIGURE 8, looking into the recessed chamber of the body, and showing one contact seated and one contact removed;

FIGURE 13 is a front view partially broken away of a lampholder embodying my invention in alternative form thereof; and

FIGURE 14 is a front view of another lampholder embodying my invention, in alternative form thereof.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is shown a conventional type of double-ended fluorescent lamp 1 supported at opposite ends between a pair of lampholders 3 and 5 which are constructed in accordance with my invention. The lampholders 3 and 5 are removably secured to opposed panels 7 of a suitable support 8 which is part of a lighting fixture.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the lamp 1 has a tubular glass envelope 9 provided with bases 11 and 13 at each of its respective ends. The lampholder 3 is provided with a movable spring-biased contact-positioning plunger 15 for engagement with base 11 of the lamp, and the lampholder 5 provides a stationary contact-positioning means for engagement with base 13 of the lamp. The structure of the lampholders 3 and 5 shall be discussed in detail hereinafter. To mount lamp 1 in the lampholders 3 and 5, the base 11 is first engaged with plunger 15 of lampholder 3 and the lamp is then moved to the left (viewing FIGURE 1) to force the plunger 15 into the lampholder 3 until the lamp base 13 can clear the lampholder 5, as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1. The lamp 1 is then brought into line with the lampholder 5 and the base 13 of the lamp is engaged therewith. The lamp is held firmly in the lampholders 3 and 5 by the spring-biased plunger 15. Removal of the lamp from the lampholders is accomplished by moving it to the left (viewing FIGURE 1) until the lamp base 13 is withdrawn from lampholder 5, tilting the lamp to clear the lampholder 5, and then withdrawing base 11 from plunger 15 of lampholder 3.

The lamp bases 11 and 13 are of identical structure and, therefore, for conciseness in description, the internal parts of only the base 11 have been shown completely in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. The lamp base 11, as shown in FIGURE 2, comprises an annular metal shell 17 and-a disc 19 of electrically insulating material. The inner rim of the shell 17 is embedded in the periphery of the insulating disc 19 to mechanically join these base members together in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The disc 19 includes an elongated embossment 21 projecting outwardly from its base. A passage 23 is provided in the embossed portion of disc 19, and this passage 23 extends completely through the center of the disc. Metal wire current inleads 25 and 27 extend inwardly through passage 23 and stem 29 of the glass envelope 9 for connection to electrode 31. The outer ends of the current inleads 25 and 27 are bent over in opposite directions, as shown in FIGURE 2, and they terminate within two outwardly facing cavities 33 and 35 which are connected to the passage 23.

As is well known in the art, the lamp envelope 9 contains a starting gas, such as argon, at a few millimeters pressure, and a small quantity 37 of mercury which is at a pressure of about 10 microns during operation .of the lamp. A coating 39 of fluorescent material is provided on the inner surface of the envelope and this material is excited to luminescence by the mercury vapor discharge during the energization of the electrodes.

Turning now to a simplified means for removably mounting the new and improved lampholders 3 and 5 in a supporting panel without requiring any supplemental hardware, attention is directed to FIGURES 1 and 2. The lampholder 3, which is shown at the left of FIGURES l and 2, includes a cupshaped insulating body 41 with a recessed chamber 43 (FIGURE 7) opening into one end 45 thereof, and the aforementioned contact-positioning plunger 15 which is reoiprocably and telescopically arranged within the chamber 43 of body 41 to form an insulative housing 47 (FIGURE 2) for the movable contact elements of the lampholder. (See also FIGURE 6.) The lampholder 3 also includes a clamping member 49, which effectively holds plunger 15 in complementary engagement with the cup-shaped insulating body 41, and also readily snaps the lampholder into engagement with a panel aperture 51 (FIGURE 1a) for securing it to a supporting fixture.

For telescopically receiving plunger 15, as shown in FIGURE 7, the chamber 43 of body 41 includes a generally cylindrical cavity 53 with a pair of diametrically opposed grooves 55 formed in the side walls thereof. The plunger 15 has a generally cylindrical external 0onfiguration of less diameter than the cylindrical cavity 53 and is provided with diametrically opposed shoulders 57 (FIGURE 2) which project radially outwardly from the plunger and fit into the grooves 5 5 of body 41 to guide the reciprocating movement of the plunger 15 in cavity 53.

As shown in FIGURE 6, the clamping member 49 includes an annular disc-like section 59. Section 59 has an outer flanged periphery 61 of greater diameter than the round edge 63 of panel aperture 51 (as illustrated on the left side of FIGURE 1), and a central aperture 65 (FIGURE 6) of slightly greater diameter than the external diameter of plunger 15. For eflectively attaching the clamping member 49 to insulating body 41 and at the same time holding plunger 15 in engagement therewith, a series of T-shaped lugs 67 are integrally formed on outer periphery 61 of the clamping member. Lugs 67 extend outwardly in a generally perpendicular direction from the plane of annular section 59. In the illustrated lampholder 3, as shown in FIGURE 5, four equiangularly spaced lugs 67 are provided. For cooperation with these lugs 67, the outer periphery of insulating body 41 includes a series of four equiangularly spaced channels 69 which are in generally parallel relationship to the axis of body 41 (FIG- URES 3 and 7). Each of the channels 69 extends between open end 45 of body 41 and closed end 71 of body 41 and, as shown in FIGURE 1, includes a pair of aligned transverse shoulders 73 adjacent to but spaced from the open end 45. (See also FIGURE 3.) The channel 69 is also axially and transversely stepped at shoulders 73, being of shallower depth and smaller width between body end 45 and the shoulders 73- than the depth and width between shoulders 73 and body end 71. (See FIGURE 2.)

To attach the clamping member 49 to body 41 and also fasten plunger thereto, as shown in FIGURE 2, the plunger 15 is positioned in chamber 53 of body 41 with the opposed shoulders 57 located in grooves 55 of the body. The central aperture 65 (FIGURE 6) of the annular section 59 of the clamping member is thereupon placed around plunger 15 and the T-shaped lugs 67 are located in their associated channels 69. Outerrnost arms 75 of the lugs 67 are then bent over into engagement behind the opposed shoulders 73 of the channels 69 (as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2) to clamp member 49 to body 41. Since the diameter of clamping member aperture 65 through which the plunger 15 extends is smaller than the distance between the outermost surfaces of plunger shoulders 57, the shoulders 57 are limited in their outward movement from within the chamber of the insulating body 41 by engagement with the innersu-rface of annular section 59 of the clamping member. (See FIGURE 2.) It will thus be seen that clamping member 4 9 has been simply and efficiently utilized to attach the plunger 15 to insulating body 41.

For removably attaching the lampholder 3 to panel aperture 51 in a simplified and effective manner, between each adjacent pair of T-shaped lugs 67, an adjacent pair of angularly spaced attachment legs 77 are formed on the outer periphery d1 of clamping member 49. (See FIG- URE 6.) Each of the attachment legs 77 includes two sections which are in angular relationship to provide an outwardly extending Wall-engaging shoulder 79. The wall-engaging shoulders 79 face radially outwardly from the axis of the lampholder and are disposed on the legs 77 a predetermined distance from the outer periphery 61 of clamping member 49 so that the assembled lampholder 3 may be readily snapped into engagement with panel aperture 51 from the front thereof. More particularly, as shown in FIGURES l, 3, and 5, the legs '77 are arranged in series around the periphery of the clamping member and they are generally perpendicular to annular section 59. When the lampholder 3 is not mounted, the outer ends of shoulders 79 of legs 77 are generally arranged in a circle of diameter greater than aperture 51. During the insertion or withdrawal of lampholder 3 from the panel aperture 51, the shoulders 79 are compressed inwardly toward the axis of the lampholder by engagernent of one or the other of the angled leg sections with edge 63 of aperture 51 to allow the attachment legs 77 to pass through the aperture. Upon the insertion or withdrawal of the lampholder 3 from the panel aperture, free ends 81 of the attachment legs 77 bear against the outer cylindrical surface 83 of insulating body 4 1, to limit the compression of shoulders 79 and thereby provide a relatively stiff spring action for the shoulders 79.

From viewing FIGURES l and 2, it will be understood that lampholder 3 is readily snapped into seated engagement with the panel aperture from the right side or front of the panel by means of the engagement of the legs 77 of the clamping member 49 with the panel aperture 51. The mounted lampholder 3 may be readily removed from the fixture panel 7 for servicing and the like. For example, lamtpholder 3, as shown in its mounted position in FIGURE 1, may be easily removed from panel 7 from the right side or front of the panel by prying it out with a suitable tool, or it may be removed from the rear or left side of the panel by pushing closed end 71 of body 41 toward the right.

For many lampholder applications, such as, for example, the arrangement shown in FIGURES l and 2, it is important that the lampholder contacts be arranged in a predetermined angular position and in a non-rotational relationship with their supporting panels. To expediently accomplish this, as shown in FIGURE la, aperture 51 of the supporting panel 8 has a rectangular notch 85 formed in the rounded inner edge 63 thereof. The notch d5 receives a radially projecting box-shaped key 87 (FIG- URES 4 and 6) formed on the outer wall 83 of the insulating body 41 adjacent the open end 45 thereof, to assure that the lampholder 3 is seated into engagement with panel aperture 51 in a predetermined angular relationship. The key 87 of lampholder insulating body 41 thus cooperates with notch of the panel aperture to always fasten the lampholder 3 to the fixture panel 7 in the same relative position, and it precludes any rotation of the lampholder in the panel after it is fastened thereto.

It will now therefore be seen that the clamping member 49 attaches the plunger 15 to insulating body 41 to form a compact housing for the lampholder 3, and at the same time enables the lampholder 3 to be readily and removably mounted in a panel aperture without requiring the use of any supplemental hardware. It will also be seen that the lampholder 3 includes a complementary engage rnent means for cooperating with the panel aperture and thereby precluding any rotation of the lampholder in the fixture panel.

Turning now to a further aspect of the present invention whereby there is provided a new and improved pressure locking contact arrangement for a lampholder which incorporates a movable contact-positioning plunger, attention is directed to FIGURE 6. For resiliently locking the bared ends of external conductors into engagement with the lampholder 3, two terminal elements 89 are provided. Each of the elements 89 is effectively adapted for complementary engagement with chamber 43 of the insulating body 41, and as shall be further understood hereinafter, helps to support and position one of the coiled compression springs 91 in the lampholder cavity 53.

More particularly, the terminal element 89 comprises a generally L-shaped contact engaging section 93 and a looped or U-shaped pressure locking section 95, which are integrally connected together by arm 97. The L-shaped section 93 includes a generally flat platform 99 with an aperture 101 formed therein, and limb 103 which is turned over in perpendicular fashion from platform 99, as shown in FIGURE 6. The platform 99 fits into complementary engagement with a similarly configured recess 104 formed upon one side of inner bottom 105 of the cylindrical cavity 53 of body 41 (as shown in FIGURE 7). To help place and position platform 99 of each element 89 on one side of bottom 105 of cavity 53, a curved edge 107 of platform aperture 101 engages a curved inner shoulder 109 of a molded positioning stud 111 formed on bottom 105. (See FIGURE 7.) Thus, as shown by FIGURES 6 and 7, curved edge 107 of aperture 101 and curved shoulder 109 of stud 111 have substantially the same radius of curvature to enable these surfaces to cooperate with each other. On the other side of platform aperture 101 from the section of edge 107 which engages shoulder 109 of the positioning stud 111, a tab 113 is extended outwardly from the plane of the platform 99. (See FIG- URE 6.) When platform 99 is seated in engagement with the complementary recess 104 on inner bottom 105 of the lampholder body 41, the curved shoulder 109 of stud 111 and tab 113 each engage within the outer periphery of one end of compression spring 91 (on opposite sides thereof), as suggested by the dotted line of FIGURE 6, to accurately position spring 91 in electrical engagement with terminal element 89 and prevent any lateral movement thereof. It will thus be seen that studs 111 of insulating body 41 and tabs 113 of the terminal elements 89 cooperate to precisely position the outer end of each spring 91 in the lampholder housing.

As shown in FIGURE 7, a shallow channel 115 is formed in each side of cylindrical cavity 53. Channel 115 extends axially of body 41 into recess 104 and opens into cavity 53 for receiving and positioning limb 103 of terminal element 89. (See also FIGURE 6.)

Turning now to the structure of the U-shaped pressurelocking section 95 of terminal element 89, attention is directed to FIGURE 6. Section 95 includes at its free end a resilient tongue 117 which is in generally parallel relationship to an opposed portion 119 and connected 7 thereto by bight 121. As shown in FIGURE 6, portion 119 is integral and coplanar to the aforementioned connecting arm 97, and disposed at a slight angle with relation thereto.

To enable each of the terminal elements 89 to assume a compact complementary relationship with lampholder insulating body 41, and allow the movable parts of the lampholder to effectively perform their functions in a minimal area, as shown in FIGURE 5, the closed end 71 of body 41 has a pair of generally opposed conductorreceiving apertures 123 formed therein. The apertures 123 each open inwardly into a stepped inner transverse wall 124 (FIGURE 7) from stepped rear end section 71a (FIGURE More particularly, each of the apertures 123 is located adjacent to the rear end of one of the channels 69 (FIGURE 5) of a pair of opposed channels 69,, and the axes of the apertures 123 are parallel to each. other and also parallel to the axis of the lampholder. Adjacent each of these apertures 123 (as shown in FIG- URE 7) there is formed in chamber 43 of body 41, a wall 125 which perpendicularly intersects transverse wall 124 and is disposed in a plane parallel to the axis of the aperture 123. Each of the walls 125 is recessed from the cylindrical cavity 53 (as shown in FIGURE 7) and conterminous with a stepped surface 127 which is disposed in parallel relationship to wall 124 and in transverse relationship to the axis of the lampholder. Stepped surface 127 is also spaced axially toward end 45 of the insulating body from wall 124. The stepped surface 127 is in turn conterminous at its outer edge with a relatively flat recessed longitudinal wall 129, and conterminous inwardly with shallow channel 115. (See also FIGURE 6.) As shown in FIGURE 7, the right side of the upper surface 127 perpendicularly intersects longitudinal side wall 130 which is also perpendicularly connected to longitudinal wall 129. The wall 129, as shown in FIGURE 6, is also angularly conterminous with an elongated wall 131. The wall 131 is in generally parallel relationship to the axis of conductor-receiving aperture 123 and perpendicularly intersects the wall 125 on one of its sides. On its other side, the elongated wall 131 is connected to another wall 133 which is disposed in perpendicular relationship thereto and is also in generally parallel relationship with the shorter opposed wall 125. As shown in FIGURE 7, elongated wall 131 is also located adjacent to and outwardly of conductor-receiving aperture 123 and it perpendicularly intersects transverse wall 124.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the walls 124, 125, 131, 133, and 127, 129, 130 describe an over-all recess 135 in the wall of chamber 43 which communicates with each associated conductor-receiving aperture 123 and also opens transversely into the cylindrical cavity 53. By one aspect of the present invention, the pressure locking section 95 of each of the terminal elements 89, together with arm 97 thereof, is positioned in this over-all recess 135 in such a manner that an effective pressure locking action is achieved by the terminals without in any way interfering with the reciprocating operation of the plunger 15. More particularly, viewing FIGURES 6 and 7, the U-shaped pressure-locking section 95 is positioned within recess 135 next to transverse wall 124, with tapered groove 117a of the pressure-locking tongue 117 extending angularly away from the inner end of an adjacent conductor-receiving aperture 123. (See also FIGURE 2.) Bight 121 of the pressure-locking section 95 is then disposed adjacent to the side wall 133 of the recess 135 and connecting arm 97 of the terminal element 89 is positioned upon stepped surface 127. (See also FIGURE 6.) To hold the pressure-locking section 95 of each terminal element 89 in its desired position within recess 135 of insulating body 41, a flat piece of thin insulating material 137 (as shown in FIGURE 6) is positioned with its ends 137a disposed in a pair of opposed grooves 139 formed in walls 133 and 129. When clamping member 49 is fastened to insulating body 41, it engages outer longitudinal edge 140 of insulator 137 and presses the inner longitudinal edge 141 against portion 119 and arm 97 of the terminal element to hold the terminal element in its desired position.

To efifect the pressure-locking engagement of bared conductor ends by the pressure-locking tongues 117 of terminal elements 89, the tongues 117 are normally resiliently biased toward their associated apertures 123 to provide a wedging biasing force. Thus, when the bared end of a conductor is thrust inwardly through any receiving aperture 123, the associated locking tongue 117 pivots or flexes about its curved end 1171) in response to the force transmitted to it by the inserted conductor, and the tapered groove 117a of tongue 117 resiliently coacts with the adjacent wall of body 41 and the aperture 123 to sandwich or wedge the bared conductor end into electrical engagement with the terminal element 89.

To disengage any conductor from its pressure-locking tongue 117, an unlocking slot 143 is molded into the closed end 71 of body 41 adjacent to each conductor receiving aperture 123. Each slot 143 thus extends axially from stepped outer end wall 71a through the closed end of body 41 and opens into chamber 43 thereof adjacent an associated aperture 123. (See FIGURE 6.) One merely needs to insert a sharply pointed tool through the unlocking slot 143 and flex the pressure-locking tongue 117 to unlock any bared conductor end from electrical engagement with its pressuredocking tongue.

Turning now to a further exposition of the structure of lampholder 3, as previously mentioned, each of the coiled compression springs 91 has one of its ends positioned conjunctively around curved shoulder 1119 of body stud 111 and tab 113 of platform 99 of the terminal element 89, as shown by the dotted line of FIGURE 6. As shown in the left side of FIGURE 2, each of the springs 91 is thus in electrical engagement with terminal element 89. The other end of each of the springs 91 engages shoulders 145 and 147 on identical flat metal contacts 149 and 151 (as shown in FIGURE 2). The shoulders 145 and 147 of each of the contacts 149 and 151 are urged toward a transverse integral partition 153 of the plunger 15 to bias the plunger outwardly from chamber 43. Each of the contacts 149 and 151 also has a transverse embossment 154 (FIGURE 6) formed on its surface between shoulders 145 and 147 thereof. Embossment 154 engages the back surface of partition 153 when the lampholder is disengaged from a lamp base.

In addition to the transverse partition 153 of plunger 15, which acts as a stop for the contacts 149 and 151, the plunger 15 is provided with an integral longitudinal partition 155 (FIGURE 2) which insulates each of the springs 91 and the contacts 149 and 151 from each other.

To enable the spring-biased contacts 149 and 151 to engage the inleads 25 and 27 of lamp 1, these contacts extend through aligned slots 157 (FIGURE 4) in the partition 153 and into the cavity 159 in the front face of plunger 15. The back surface of the partition 153 is slanted forwardly and inwardly from its ends toward the center, as is shown by dotted lines in the plan View at the left side of FIGURE 2, so that the blades of the contacts 149 and 151 diverge outwardly from each other when the lamp is removed from engagement with the lampholder 3.

The springs 91 in the lampholder 3 thus serve the dual purpose of biasing the plunger 15 outwardly of the chamber 53 and biasing the outer ends of the contacts 149 and 151 outwardly from each other so that these contacts make a positive connection with the inleads 25 and 27 of the inserted lamp base 11. The springs 91 are connected to terminal elements 89 by means of their engagement with platform 99 thereof and thus serve to conduct electrical energy to the mounted lamp from the terminal elements 89.

It will now therefore be seen that the lampholder 3 embodying the present invention is of simplified construction and effectively achieves automatic resilient locking of the bared ends of conductors by means of a novel structural arrangement.

Turning now to a detailed discussion of the non-compressible or fixed end type of lampholder embodying my invention, attention is initially directed to the right side of FIGURES 1 and 2. The lampholder 5 is similar to the aforementioned lampholder 3 in that it includes the clamping member 49 for snapping the lampholder into engagement with the panel aperture 51 of a suitable fixture. However, the lampholder 5 differs from lampholder 3 in that it is of smaller construction and includes fewer parts. More particularly, as shown in FIGURE 11, the lampholder 5 comprises a relatively shallow cupshaped insulating body 171, a pair of identical contacts 173 positioned in a recess 175 (FIGURE 2) of body 171, a contact-positioning insulating disc 177 disposed in complementary engagement with body 171 in recess 175, and a clamping member 49 for rigidly fastening disc 177 to body 171 and for also removably mounting the lampholder 5 to a panel aperture 51.

For supporting and positioning the contacts 173 and insulating disc 177 in insulating body 171, the body 171 has its recess 175 divided into two laterally spaced chambers 179 located at the closed end 181 of body 171 (as shown in FIGURE 11) and opening axially into a generally cylindrical outer cavity section 183 at the open end 185 of body 171.

One of the contacts 173 is positioned in each of the chambers 179 of body 171, as shown in FIGURES l1 and 12, as will be set forth in detail hereinafter. The disc 177 telescopes into complementary engagement with the generally cylindrical outer cavity section 183 of body 171 to form a very compact and wafer-like insulative housing for the contacts 173 of the lampholder. More particularly, as shown in FIGURE 11, insulating body 171 has a pair of inwardly facing opposed ears 187 formed on outer cavity section 183. Disc 177 has an annular flange 189 with a pair of opposed indentations 191 formed thereon. The flange 189 of disc 177 fits into the outer cavity section 183 of body 171, as shown on the right side of FIGURE 2, and the indentations 191 of the flange 189 receive eans 187 to securely and compactly form an insulative housing for the lampholder contacts 173.

As shown in FIGURE 11, the outer periphery of insulating body 171 includes a series of four channels which are equiangularly spaced apart and in generally parallel relationship to the axis of a body 171. One pair of these channels is of the type identified by reference 193a in FIGURE 11, and the other pair of channels is of the type identified by reference 19% in FIGURE 11. Each of the channels 193a and 19% extends between open end 185 of body 171 and the other side of annular flange 182, and it has a pair of opposed shoulders 195 formed on the rearward side of flange 182. (See FIGURE 1.) The shoulders 195 are functionally and structurally similar to shoulders 73 of the body 41 of lampholder 3.

The clamping member 49 is attached to body 171 and also fastens disc 177 thereto, as shown in the right side of FIGURE 2, in the same manner as previously described for lampholder 3. Thus, T-shap-ed lugs 67 of clamping member 49 are located in channels 193a and 193b of body 171, and the outermost arms 75 of the lugs are then bent over into engagement behind the opposed shoulders 195 of the channels to clamp member 49 to body 171. The diameter of central aperture 65 of the annular section 59 of the clamping member is smaller than the diameter of the outer periphery 189a of flange 189 and member 49 thus holds disc 177 in rigid complementary relationship with body 171. (See FIG- URE 8.)

The clamping member 49 for lampholder 5 includes the aforementioned series of attachment legs 77 for removably, simply and effectively snapping the lampholder 5 into engagement with a panel aperture 51 in the same manner previously described for lampholder 3. To preclude rotation of the lampholder 5 in panel 7 after it is fastened thereto, a radially projecting key 87 of lampholder insulating body 171 cooperates with notch of the panel aperture 51 in the same manner previously described for lampholder 3.

Turning now to a further aspect of the present invention, whereby there is provided a new and improved pressure locking contact arrangement for a lampholder which incorporates a stationary contact positioning member, attention is directed to FIGURE 11. For resiliently locking the bared ends of external conductors into engagement with lampholder 5, the two aforementioned contacts 173 are provided. Each of the contacts 173 comprises an elongated strip section 291 of generally U- shaped configuration and a looped strip section 293 which is connected integrally thereto. More particularly, the U-shaped strip section 291 of each contact 173 includes a pair of generally opposed resiliently movable arms 205 which have tapered grooves 207 formed on their ends to serve as pressure locking tongues for engagement with the bared ends of external conductors. As shown in FIGURE 12, although the arms 205 are generally opposed, they are also convergent with respect to each other. The resiliently movable arms 295 of contacts 173 are connected together by an inwardly bow-shaped bight 209.

For connecting the integral looped strip section 293 to the pressure locking terminations 255 of contact 173, as shown in FIGURE 11, an L-shaped strap section 211 is bent over from one of the edges of bight 2119 near the center thereof. Strap 211 includes a supporting section 213 which is generally coplanar to the body engaging edges of tongues 205 and bight 2199, as shown in FIG- URE 11, and together with these edges engages the inner transverse surface 214 (FIGURE 12) of one of the chambers 179 to support the associated contact therein. The other part of the L-shaped strap 211 forms a supporting shank for the looped strip section 293. As best shown in FIGURE 11, the strip section 203 is of a considerably narrower width than the elongated strip section 201, to enable the extension of this looped section 2113 through slots 215 of the insulating disc 177. (See FIG- URE 9.)

To prevent the resilient movement of each of the locking tongues 205 from undesirably effecting movement of the other tongue 295, as shown in FIGURES 11 and 12, each of the chambers 179 of lampholder insulating body 171 is specially constructed to cooperate with the U-shaped strip section 201. More particularly, as shown in FIGURE 12, each of the chambers 179 is separated from the other chamber by a transverse rib 217 and it has a generally ablong configuration. Thus, as shown on the right side of FIGURE 12, each of the chambers 179 is bounded by rib 217 on one side thereof, inwardly bowed longitudinal wall 219 which is disposed in opposition to rib 217, and opposed end walls 221 which are in general conterminous with rib 217 and longitudinal wall 219. As shown best in FIGURE 8, each of the opposed end walls 221 has a circular-shaped conductor receiving aperture 223 formed therein, and rectangularly configured unlocking aperture 225 adjacent thereto. Each pair of adjacent apertures 223 and 225 opens into one of the chambers 179 from one end wall 221 thereof and faces another adjacent pair of apertures 223 and 225 at the other end wall 221 of the same chamber 179. (See also FIGURE 10.)

To simply and elfectively segregate the resilient functioning of each of the locking tongues 2115 from that of the other and at the same time prevent the resilient functioning of each of these tongues 2115 from imparting any deleterious effect to the resilient function of the looped strip section 203, each of the contacts 173 is 11 positioned in chamber 179 of the insulating body 171, as shown in FIGURE 12. Each contact 173 is thus positioned in insulating body 171, so that the U-shaped strip section 201 fits snugly into a chamber 179, with the inwardly bow-shaped bight 209 engaging inwardly bowed longitudinal wall 219, and the locking tongues 205 disposed in convergent relationship and next to an associated end wall 221. With this arrangement, as shown in FIGURE 12, a pair of opposed upright bosses 227 are formed in chamber 179 alongside of the juncture 228 or bent part of L-shaped strap 211. The bosses 227 project toward the open end 185 of the lampholder insulating body from closed end wall 181, and are disposed within each chamber 179 so that they bracket the inner end of juncture 228 of the strap 211. Each pair of bosses 227 is disposed on opposite respective sides of a strap 211 so that the bosses engage the opposite outer edges of strap 211 adjacent juncture 228 upon the resilient fiexure of each of the locking tongues 205. Thus, for example, when a bared conductor is inserted through a conductor-receiving aperture 223 on one side of a chamber 179 and engages a tongue 205, due to the engagement of juncture 228 of strap 211 of the contact with the boss 227 which is farthest away from it, the resilient flexure of the tongue 205 imparts little or no effect upon the opposing tongue 205 at the other side of the contact.

As shown in FIGURE 12, to provide a limited bearing area for the pivoted flexure of each of the resilient tongues 205, a molded stud 229 is positioned in chamber 179 in spaced adjacency to the curved intersection 231 of longitudinal wall 219 and each end wall 221. Stud 229 is thus spaced radially inwardly from the curved intersection 231 of bight 209 and tongue 205 of the contact, and it engages the contact at or near this curved intersection to provide a limited bearing area for each tongue 205.

To effect the pressure-locking engagement of bared conductor ends by the pressure locking tongues 205 of contacts 173, the tongues 205 are normally resiliently biased away from each other and toward their associated apertures 223 to provide a wedging biasing force. Thus, when the bared end of a conductor is thrust inwardly through the opposed apertures 223 of each chamber, the associated locking tongue 205 pivots and flexes about its curved end in response to the force transmitted to it by the inserted conductor, and the tapered groove 207 of tongue 205 resiliently coacts with the adjacent end of transverse rib 217 and aperture 223 to sandwich or wedge the bared conductor end into electrical engagement with contact 173. (See FIGURE 12.) As shown in FIGURE 12, each of the contacts 173 effectively provides two pressure-locking terminations, one at each end of the U-shaped strip section 201. This construction conveniently lends itself to simplified installation by reducing the number of splices required, and thereby substantially reduces installation expense of the fixture with which the lampholder is incorporated.

To disengage any conductor from its pressure locking tongue 205, one needs merely to insert a sharply pointed tool through unlocking aperture 225 in the same manner previously described for lampholder 3. Flexure of each of the pressure-locking tongues 205 inwardly thus unlocks any bared conductor end from electrical engagement with its tongue.

Turning now to a discussion of the looped strip section 203 of contacts 173, attention is directed to FIGURES 2 and 11. As shown in FIGURE 12, U-shaped strip section 201 of each of the contacts 173 is positioned in its chamber 172 of insulating body 171 so that it supports the looped strip section 203. (See also FIGURE 2.) When the disc 177 is positioned in complementary engagement with insulating body 171 by means of clamping member 49, the major portion of the looped strip section 203 extends outwardly through slot 215 of the disc (as shown in FIGURE 2) and protrudes into cavity 233 in the front face of the disc. The side 235 of section 203 next to end 237 is then disposed next to the inner-most end of each slot 215 and the end 237 engages central embossment 239 of rib 217 (FIGURE 11). As shown on the right side of FIGURE 2, the elongated embossment 21 of lamp base 13 telescopes into cavity 233 of lampholder 5 and the outermost ends of inleads 25 and 27 engage the outer side 241 of looped strip section 203 to conduct electrical energy to the mounted lamp from contacts 173. When the inleads of the lamp base 13 engage sides 241 of contact sections 203, the outer ends of the looped sections 203 are thereby brushed toward each other to achieve the desired contact wiping effect. The resilient movement of looped section 203 upon contact with the inleads is in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of pressure locking tongues 205 and the functioning of loops 203 has no effect upon the functioning of tongues 205.

It will now, therefore, be seen that the lampholder 5 embodying my invention is of simplified construction and effectively achieves automatic resilient locking of the bared ends of two conductors to each lampholder contact by means of a novel structural arrangement.

FIGURE 13 illustrates, as a modified form of the present invention, a lampholder similar to the lampholder 5 of previous description. For the lampholder 251, the same reference numerals have been employed to indicate lampholder parts which have heretofore been described for lampholder 5. The lampholder 251 differs from lampholder 5 in that the contacts 253 do not extend outwardly of recess for engagement with associated lamp base contacts but are instead engaged by extending lamp pins (not shown) of a lamp base through apertures 255 of stationary disc 257. Each of the contacts 253 of lampholder 251 employs a U-shaped strip section 258 which provides two pressure locking tongues and is identical structurally and functionally to the U-shaped strip section of contacts 173 of lampholder 5. The lampholder 251 also employs the same insulating body as does lampholder 5. The structure of the contacts 253 differs from that of the contacts 173 of lampholder 5 in that the width of the strip material comprising looped section 259 :of contact 253 is greater than the width of the material comprising looped strip section 203 of contact 173, In addition, each of the contacts 253 has a pair of wings 261 which extend outwardly and angularly from the side edges of the inner side 263 of the looped section. These wings 261 cooperate with a recess formed in the underside (not shown) of disc 257 to position the looped section 259 of the contacts therein.

Upon engagement of a suitable lamp base (not shown) with lampholder 251, the lamp pins thereof enter apertures 255 of disc 257 to resiliently engage the outward side 265 of the looped section.

FIGURE 14 illustrates a further modified form of lampholder 5. Lampholder 271 which is shown in this figure differs from lampholder 251 in that it employs a stationary disc 273 with a single relatively wide central aperture 275 formed therein. The disc 273 is in complementary engagement with an insulating body 171 and it exposes two recessed contacts 253 of the same construction and function as the contacts for lampholder 251.

It will now therefore be seen that the present invention provides novel lampholders which are simple in construction, efficient in operation, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what at present are considered to be the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and I, therefore, aim in the following claims to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lampholder for a fluorescent lamp comprising an insulating body with a chamber opening into one end thereof and at least one conductor-receiving aperture extending into said chamber from the other end thereof, said chamber including a generally cylindrical cavity and at least one recess in the Wall of said chamber which opens into said cavity and also communicates with said conductor-receiving aperture, a contact-positioning plunger arranged in the cylindrical cavity of said body for reciprocating movement relative to said body, contact means positioned by said plunger for engagement with said fluorescent lamp, resilient means for biasing said contact means into engagement With said plunger and for biasing said plunger outwardly from said cylindrical cavity, and a terminal member in complementary engagement with said chamber, said terminal member including a contact-engaging section disposed in said cylindrical cavity for connection to said contact means and a looped pressure-locl ing section disposed in said recess for resilient attachment to a conductor inserted through said conductor-receiving aperture, said pressure-locking section including a resilient tongue which is positioned angularly across the inner end of said aperture and located adjacent a wall of said recess, said tongue being arranged to resiliently sandwich the inserted conductor against said last-mentioned wall for locking the conductor in engagement with said contact means 2. A lampholder for a fluorescent lamp comprising a cup-shaped insulating body 'with a chamber opening into one end thereof and at least one conductor-receiving aperture extending into said chamber from the other end thereof, said chamber including a generally cylindrical cavity and at least one recess in the wall of said chamber which opens laterally into said cavity and also cornmunicates with said conductor-receiving aperture, the axis of said conductor-receiving aperture being disposed in parallel relationship to the axis of said cylindrical cavity, a contact-positioning plunger arranged in the cylindrical cavity of said body for reciprocating movement relative to said body, contact means positioned by said plunger for engagement with said fluorescent lamp, resilient means for biasing said contact means into engagement with said plunger and for biasing said plunger outwardly from said cylindrical cavity, and a terminal member in complementary engagement with said chamber, said terminal member including a contact-engaging section disposed transversely in said cylindrical cavity for connection to said contact means and a looped pressuredocking section disposed in said recess for resilient attachment to a conductor inserted through said conductor-receiving aperture, said pressure-locking section including a resilient tongue which is positioned angularly across the inner end of said aperture and located adjacent a wall of said recess, said tongue being arranged to resiliently sandwich the inserted conductor against said lastentioned wall for locking the conductor in engagement with said contact means.

3. A lampholder for a fluorescent lamp comprising a cup-shaped insulating body with a chamber opening into one end thereof and a pair of opposed conductor-receiving apertures extending into said chamber from the other end thereof, said chamber including a generally cylindrical cavity and a pair of generally opposed recesses in the Wall of said chamber, each of said recesses opening laterally into said cavity and also communicating with one of said conductor-receiving apertures, the axes of said conductor-receiving apertures being disposed in parallel relationship to each other and to the axis of said cylindrical cavity, a contact-positioning plunger arranged in the cylindrical cavity or" said body for reciprocating movement relative to said body, a pair of contacts carried by said plunger for engagement with said fluorescent lamp, a spring connected to each of said contacts for biasing an associated one of said contacts into engagement with said plunger and for biasing said plunger outwardly from said cylindrical cavity, and a pair of terminal members in complementary engagement with said chamber, each of said terminal members including a contactengaging section disposed transversely in said cylindrical cavity for connection to an associated one of said contacts and a looped pressure-locking section disposed in an associated one of said recesses for resilient attachment to a conductor inserted through one of said conductor-receiving apertures, said pressure-locking sections each including a resilient tongue which i positioned angularly across the inner end of said aperture and located adjacent an associated wall of said recess, said tongue being arranged to resiliently sandwich the inserted conductor against said last-mentioned wall for locking the conductor in engagement with said contact.

4. A lampholder for a fluorescent lamp comprising an insulating body with at least one chamber therein, at least two opposed conductor-receiving apertures extending into said chamber through respective opposite sides of said body, at least one resilient contact disposed within said chamber, said contact including an elongated strip section of U-shaped configuration and a looped strip section for resiliently engaging an associated contact pin of said lamp, the elongated strip section of said contact including a pair of opposed arms, said arms having their ends positioned angularly across the opposed inner ends of said apertures and being arranged for resilient movement in first and second opposite directions respectively to provide a pair of pressuredocking terminals for external leads pushed through said apertures, said looped strip section being disposed between the ends of said elongated strip section and arranged for resilient movement in a third direction transverse to said first and second directions thereby to engage the pin of said lamp, and structural means formed in said body between said apertures for engagement with said contact to substantially segregate the resilient movement of each of the arms of said contact from that of the other.

5. A lampholder for a fluorescent lamp comprising an insulating body with at least one chamber therein, at least two opposed conductor-receiving apertures extending into said chamber through respective opposite sides of said body, at least one resilient contact disposed Within said chamber, said contact including an elongated strip section of U-shaped configuration, a looped strip section for resiliently engaging an associated contact pin of said lamp, and a means for connecting said looped section to said elongated section, the elongated strip section of said contact including a pair of opposed arms, said arms having their ends positioned angularly across the opposed inner ends of said apertures and being arranged for resilient movement in first and second opposite directions respectively to provide a pair of pressurelocking terminals for external leads pushed through said apertures, said looped strip section being disposed between the ends of said elongated strip section and joined thereto by said connection means, said looped section being arranged for resilient movement in a third direction transverse to said first and second directions thereby to engage the pin of said lamp, and a boss formed in said chamber on each side of said connection means, the bosses on the sides of said connection means being arranged for engagement by said connection means to substantially segregate the resilient movement of each of the arms of said contact from that of the other.

6. A lampholder for a fluorescent lamp comprising a recessed insulating body with a pair of separate chambers formed therein, at least two opposed conductorreceiving apertures extending into each of said chambers through respective opposite sides of said body, a pair of resilient contacts disposed in said body, each said contact including an elongated strip section of U-shaped configuration disposed in an associated one of said chambers, a looped strip section for resiliently engaging an associated contact pin of said lamp, and a strap for connecting said looped seCtiOn to said elongated section, the elongated strip section of each contact including a pair of opposed arms, each pair of arms having the ends thereof positioned angularly across the opposed inner ends of associated apertures within one of said chambers and being arranged for resilient movement in first and second opposite directions respectively to provide a pair of pressure-locking terminals for external leads pushed through said apertures, the looped strip section of each contact being disposed between the ends of an associated elongated strip section and joined thereto by said strap, said looped section being arranged for resilient movement in a third direction transverse to said first and second directions thereby to engage the pin of said lamp, and a boss formed in said chamber on each side of said strap, the bosses on the sides of the straps of the two contacts being arranged for engagement by said traps to substantially segregate the resilient movement of each of the arms of each contact Within said chamber from that of the other arm.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,716,738 8/1955 Pistey -3 339-52 2,716,739 8/1955 Lemmers 339-53 2,742,620 4/1956 Pistey 339-52 2,742,621 4/1956 Pistey 339-52 3,060,399 10/1962 Pistey 339-95 X 3,060,400 10/1962 Pistey 339-53 3,116,098 12/1963 Kulka 339-56 3,169,815 2/1965 Lennox 339-52 PATRICK A. CLIFFORD, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED S. TRASK, Examiner. 

4. A LAMPHOLDER FOR A FLUORESCENT LAMP COMPRISING AN INSULATING BODY WITH A LEAST ONE CHAMBER THEREIN, AT LEAST TWO OPPOSED CONDUCTOR-RECEIVING APERTURES EXTENDING INTO SAID CHAMBER THROUGH RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID BODY, AT LEAST ONE RESILIENT CONTACT DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CHAMBER, SAID CONTACT INCLUDING AN ELONGATED STRIP SECTION OF U-SHAPED CONFIGURATION AND A LOOPED STRIP SECTION FOR RESILIENTLY ENGAGING AN ASSOCIATED CONTACT PIN OF SAID LAMP, THE ELONGATED STRIP SECTION OF SAID CONTACT INCLUDING A PAIR OF OPPOSED ARMS, SAID ARMS HAVING THEIR ENDS POSITIONED ANGULARLY ACROSS THE OPPOSED INNER ENDS OF SAID APERTURES AND BEING ARRANGED FOR RESILIENT MOVEMENT IN FIRST AND SECOND OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS RESPECTIVELY TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF PRESSURE-LOCKING TERMINALS FOR EXTERNAL LEAD PUSHED THROUGH SAID APERTURES, SAID LOOPED STRIP SECTION BEING DISPODED BETWEEN THE ENDS OF SAID ELONGATED STRIP SECTION AND ARRANGED FOR RESILIENT MOVEMENT IN A THIRD DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID FIRST AND SECOND DIRECTIONS THEREBY TO ENGAGE THE PIN OF SAID LAMP, AND STRUCTURAL MEANS FORMED IN SAID BODY BETWEEN SAID APERTURES FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CONTACT TO SUBSTANTIALLY SEGREGATE THE RESILIENT MOVEMENT OF EACH OF THE ARMS OF SAID CONTACT FROM THAT OF THE OTHER. 